Suspended ceiling with cruciform runners having lugs engaging panel mounting flanges



July 25, 1967 J. FISCHER 3,

SUSPENDED CEILING WITH CRUCIFORM RUNNERS HAVING LUGS ENGAGING PANELMOUNTING FLANGES Filed Aug. 27, 1963 I H B 55.: mi f U FIG-1 005- 3 3g 9er- L f 3 5 U U U" FIGS 2 2L mm..mmmazggzz'%" ram-Gun 5 INVENTOR THIN 55ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,332,191 SUSPENDED CEILING WITHCRUCIFORM RUN- NERS HAVING LUGS ENGAGING PANEL MOUNTING FLANGES JeanFischer, Sankt Klemens, Denmark Filed Aug. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 304,907

Claims priority, application Denmark, Sept. 3, 1962,

3,846/ 62 3 Claims. (Cl. 52495) This invention relates to a falseceiling panel comprising trough-shaped parallel thin-walled elementswhich along at least one of their longitudinal edges are provided with amounting flange for engaging holding lugs in carrying rails suspendedfrom the main ceiling and disposed transversely of the longitudinaldirection of the false ceiling elements.

The numbers of carrying rails in such false ceiling panel which is as arule rectangular, are dependent on the lengths of the elements, thespacing of the carrying railsnormally not exceeding 125-150 cm.dependent on the longitudinal rigidness of the false ceiling elements.In a known construction, the carrying rails are channel sections, in thebottom portion of which the holding lugs are punched out, and which aresuspended from the main ceiling by means of a suitable number oflongitudinally adjustable supporting straps. The two extreme carryingrails associated with each panel lie slightly Within the panelside-edges which are formed by the end edges of the false ceilingelements, and normally, particularly with a View to improving theappearance, these end portions are enclosed in a special border railconcealing the end edges of the elements. The manufacture and mountingof these border rails involve a certain rise in costs, which for a givenfalse ceiling depends inter alia on the number of panels of the falseceiling, at least two border rails being required for each panel.Consequently, the rise in costs will be lowest if the entire falseceiling is constituted by a single panel. This has contributed to thecircumstance that heretofore endeavours have as a rule gone in thedirection of making large panels though for other reasons smaller panelsmight be desirable. This applies not least to large factory and ofiicepremises having shiftab'le partitions. Even if such premises are basedon the module system, it is often seen that no regard has been had tothe module system when installing a false ceiling in other way than thelengths of the false ceiling elements conform with a multiple of themodule. A consequence thereof is that the shiftable partitions arenormally only extended up to the false ceiling instead of being extendedquite up to the main ceiling, which is preferable for stability andsound-deadening reason. The false ceiling elements extending, forexample, over 3-5 modules may moreover make required changes in theplacing of the lighting fixtures diflicult when shifting a partition.

This invention has for its object to provide for the possibility, wheninstalling a false ceiling, to take widest possible regard to thesepractically important circumstances, firstly, by making it economicallyreasonable to reduce the size of the individual false ceiling panels sothat their lengths in the longitudinal direction of the elements willcorrespond, for example, to the module of a building in which theinstallation is to be made.

With a view to attaining this purpose, the false ceiling elementsaccording to the invention are mounted in carrying rails having twoflanges being approximately at right angles to one another, viz asubstantially horizontal flange comprising holding lugs and asubstantially downwardsdirected flange bordering the end edges of thefalse ceiling elements. In this case is not only the advantage obtainedthat it will become superfluous to mount separate border rails on theendportions of the elements, the downwards-directed flange of the carryingrails replacing such separate border rails, but the carrying rails mayfurther be utilised for establishing the required connection with thewalls of the premises, esg. shiftable partitions extending quite up tothe main ceiling. Still further, the carrying rails may also be directlyused as support for lighting fixtures or other installations in thepremises.

According to the invention it is preferable that the carrying rails atthe ends of the elements are of crossshaped cross-section, the rails,besides the holding lug flange and theborder flange, comprising anupwards-directed suspension flange lying substantially in the same planewith the border flange, and a fourth flange lying substantially in planewith, and facing away from, said holding lug flange. When twoneighbouring panels of this type are located with a suitableinterspacing, for example, of 20-60 cm, this interspacing will laterallybe defined by said fourth flange of each of the two adjacent carryingrails, and these flanges will constitute a well-defined supportingsurface for, for example, a lighting fixture to be installed in thespace between the panels. Laterally, the supporting surface will bedefined by the upwardsdirected suspension flanges, which prevent thelighting fixture from being laterally displaced. These suspensionflanges also strengthen the carrying rails.

The invention also relates to a false ceiling having at least twojuxtaposed false ceiling panels of the type specified above. Thecharacteristic of this false ceiling is that also the fourth flange ofthe carrying rail disposed at the dividing line between the panelscomprises holding lugs. In this case, one and the same carrying rail canthus serve for supporting the ends facing one another of the elements ofthe two neighbouring panels.

Lastly, the invention relates to a carrying rail intended for use infalse ceilings of the kind stated which rail consists of a preferablyrolled or extruded cross profile. According to the invention twoneighbouring flanges or neighbouring arms of the cross are both providedwith holding lugs disposed at the sides of the arms facing away from theangular space between said arms, and are both adapted for serving assuspension flanges according to need. As the cross section of thiscarrying rail is symmetrical with respect to the line halving the anglebetween the two neighbouring flanges, this carrying rail may optionallybe used at one or the other side edge of a ceiling panel so that thedisadvantage of having to use two different profiles at the two sideedges is overcome.

With a view to appearance, it may be preferable that the lug-freeflanges or arms of the cross profile at their sides facing the angularspace between said flanges are provided with a longitudinally extendingfluting. Such fluting will by way of example conceal rolling marks, ifany, which may be of some importance because said flange sides will bemore or less visible in the finished false ceiling.

In the following the invention will be more fully explained withreference to the accompanying drawing, where FIG. 1 is a verticalsection through parts of two false ceiling panels suspended from a mainceiling, and between which a movable partition is disposed,

FIG. 2 a section on a larger scale, taken along line II-II of FIG. 3, ofthe portion indicated by a dot-anddash circle A in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 a section taken along line III-III of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 a cross-section of a carrying rail of a slightly modifiedconstruction.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a series of panels in sideby-side relation.

In FIG. 1, 1 is part of a main ceiling from which a false'ceiling issuspended, this false ceiling comprising 3 a number of false ceilingpanels 2, of which two are shown in FIG. 1. Each false ceiling panel 2consists of a plurality of trough-shaped parallel thin-walled elements 3of, for example, perforated aluminum sheet, and in the cavity of theseelements provision may be made for a sound-deadening material of someappropriate kind. In the embodiment shown, each element 3 is along oneside edge provided with a mounting flange 4 for engaging holding lugs 5or 5' in carrying rails 6 extending transversely of the longitudinaldirection of the elements 3, and being suspended from the main ceilingby means of carrying straps 7. These straps are longitudinallyadjustable by means of clamps 8 of a suitable kind, so that the variouscarrying rails 6 can be adjusted so as to lie in coplanar relation witheach other irrespective of irregularities, if any, in the ceilingsurface 1. Similar holding means may be provided at the other end ofeach panel.

In the embodiment shown in the drawing, the carrying rails 6 are ofcross-shaped cross section with a horizontal arm or flange 9 extendinginwardly above the false ceiling elements 3 and being provided with theholding lugs 5, a downwards-directed flange 10 covering or bordering theend edges of the false ceiling elements 3, an upwardsdirected flange 11which by means of a screw connection 12 is connected with a suitablenumber of supporting straps 7, and a fourth flange 13 disposed in thesame plane with, and facing away from, the holding lug flange 9.

Each strip or panel 3 is composed of the flange portion 4, a downwardlybent portion 3a joining part 4 along line 3b; a horizontal portion 3cjoining portion 3a along line 3d; and an upwardly bent portion 3ejoining horizontal portion 3c along line 3 and having a free edge 3g.The panel is held up, in the form shown, only by the engagement of clips5 with portion 4.

The flanges 13 of the two carrying rails of both false ceiling panelsshown in FIG. 1 extend forwardly towards a shiftable partition wall 14located between the two panels. If desired said flanges may be more orless tightly connetced with said wall. If the partition wall 14 is takendown, the spacing between the two false ceiling panels may afford roomfor the installation of a lighting fixture 15 as indicated indot-and-dash line, and this fixture may with its edges rest on the twoflanges 13 while, at the same time, it is retained in place by theupwards-directed flanges of the two carrying rails.

In the interest of completeness, it should be added that the spacingbetween the two panels may also be used for accommodating an airinjection or suction gap of an air-conditioning plant or a sprinklerplant, the nozzles of which may be mounted in fire-proof plates restingon the two flanges 13. It should also be noticed that the flange 13 mayhave holding lugs 5' as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 2, to engageand hold the elements 3 of an adjacent ceiling panel 2'.

The two suspension rails in FIG. 1 may be identical in that they bothmay be designed as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and may be turned through anangle of 90 in relation to one another. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, notonly the horizontal flange 9 but also the vertical suspension flange 11is provided with holding lugs 5 and 5', respectively, and both of saidflanges are also provided with elongated holes 16 and 16 for screwconnection 12. The carrying rail to the left of the partition wall 14 inFIG. 1 is so located that the flange 11 serves as a suspension flange sothat, consequently, the false ceiling elements 3 are mounted in holdinglugs 5 in the flange 9. In relation thereto, the carrying rail to theright of the partition wall 14 in FIG. 1 is turned clockwise through anangle of 90 so that the flange 9 of this cross profile serves as asuspension flange whilst the elements 3 are mounted in the holding lugs5' of the flange 11.

Irrespective of whether the carrying rail 6 is suspended in one or theother of the two above-explained positions, one and the same angularspace, viz the space between the flanges 10 and 13, will be the only onevisible, and shown in FIG. 4 the sides of said angular space may bedesigned with a longitudinally extending flutting 17. The purposethereof will appear from the foregoing explanation.

In FIG. 3, 18 shows a cam or projection disposed near the holding lug 5and serving as a stop for the flange 4 on the false ceiling element 3engaging this lug 5.

What I claim is:

1. A false ceiling section comprising, in combination, a plurality ofelongated parallel false ceiling elements of channel formation eachpresenting at least one mounting flange extending along a longitudinaledge of the element from one end thereof to the other, at least twocarrying rails extending transversely of the longitudinal direction ofsaid false ceiling elements at the respective ends thereof, each of saidcarrying rails having at least one substantially horizontal flangeprovided with a series of downwardly projecting holding lugs engagingwith the mounting flange of each of said false ceiling elements, and atleast one substantially vertical flange depending from saidsubstantially horizontal flange and covering the adjoining end edges ofsaid false ceiling elements, and mounting means associated with each ofsaid carrying rails.

2. A false ceiling section comprising, in combination, a plurality ofelongated parallel false ceiling elements of channel formation eachpresenting at least one mounting flange extending along a longitudinaledge of the element from one end thereof to the other, at least twocarrying rails extending transversely of the longitudinal direction ofsaid false ceiling elements at the respective ends thereof, each of saidcarrying rails having a first substantially horizontal flange providedwith a series of downwardly projecting holding lugs engaging with themounting flange of each of said false ceiling elements, a firstsubstantially vertical flange depending from said first substantiallyhorizontal flange and covering the adjoining end edges of said falseceiling elements, a second substantially horizontal flange and a secondsubstantially vertical flange joined to said first flanges substantiallyalong their joining line, and mounting means associated with said secondsubstantially vertical flange of each of said carrying rails.

3. A false ceiling section as claimed in claim 2, wherein said secondsubstantially horizontal flange carries a downwardly projecting holdinglug.

References (lited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,697,521 1/1929 Collins 522381,997,092 4/1935 Duffy 52496 2,659,807 11/ 1953 Wakefield 524842,926,237 2/ 1960 Sorenson 52484 3,202,077 8/1965 Lee 52475 FOREIGNPATENTS 1,232,419 4/ 1960 France. 1,253,369 1/1961 France.

880,226 10/ 1961 Great Britain.

272,513 3 1951 Switzerland.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

0 I. L. RIDGILL, Assistant Examiner.

2. A FALSE CEILING SECTION COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A PLURALITY OFELONGATED PARALLEL FALSE CEILING ELEMENTS OF CHANNEL FORMATION EACHPRESENTING AT LEAST ONE MOUNTING FLANGE EXTENDING ALONG A LONGITUDINALEDGE OF THE ELEMENT FROM ONE END THEREOF TO THE OTHER, AT LEAST TWOCARRYING RAILS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION OFSAID FALSE CEILING ELEMENTS AT THE RESPECTIVE ENDS THEREOF, EACH OF SAIDCARRYING RAILS HAVING A FIRST SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL FLANG PROVIDEDWITH A SERIES OF DOWNWARDLY PROJECTING HOLDING LUGS ENGAGING WITH THEMOUNTING FLANGE OF EACH OF SAID FALSE CEILING ELEMENTS, A FIRSTSUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL FLANGE DEPENDING FROM SAID FIRST SUBSTANTIALLYHORIZONTAL FLANGE AND COVERING THE ADJOINING END EDGES OF SAID FALSECEILING ELEMENTS, A SECOND SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL FLANGE AND A SECONDSUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL FLANGE JOINED TO SAID FIRST FLANGES SUBSTANTIALLYALONG THEIR JOINING LINE, AND MOUNTING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID SECONDSUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL FLANGE OF EACH OF SAID CARRYING RAILS.